Wire twisting tool



Oct. 23, 1962 c. E. BURFORD ETAL 3,059,670

WIRE TWISTING TOOL Filed Feb. 4, 1958 S l, S

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United States Patent 3,059,670 WIRE TWISTING TOOL Charles E. Burford and Leonard W. Bur-ford, Maysville, Okla. Filed Feb. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 713,233 Claims. (Cl. 140-149) This invention relates to wire twisting tools and in particular to wire twisting tools which find use in automatic baling devices.

Tools of the subject type of this invention find particular utility in apparatus for applying a binding around a bale of material wherein a twisting means is used for twisting the end portions of a wire binding surrounding the bale to thereby secure the ends of the Wire together and maintain the bale in compact condition for handling.

It is an object of this invention to provide a twisting tool of the above described type, which tool provides for strong twisting engagement of wires and increases the overall tensile strength of the binding that maintains the bale in compact condition.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a twisting tool of the above described type which tool has the advantages set forth above and may be used with standard baling wire, such as, for example, the conventional 14 /2 gauge baling wire.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a twisting tool in accordance with the above objects which tool comprises a shaft having an elongated straight portion and a twisting head secured to the shaft, the head including a twisting hook of arcuate configuration and having a free end, the hook being disposed at an angle to an imaginary axis running centrally and longitudinally of the shaft.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved twisting tool in accordance with the above objects which tool comprises a shaft bent at one end, and a twisting head, the head including a twisting hook and being secured to the bent end of the shaft in a manner that allows for adjustment of the head portion relative to the shaft portion when the tool is disposed within a baling apparatus.

Still other objects of this invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention. The various features of the exemplary embodiments provided in accordance with this invention may be best understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a twisting tool constructed in accordance with this invention and showing the disposition of the twister head relative to the twister shaft.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the twisting tool shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the lower portion of the twister shaft and the twister head of the twisting tool shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the bottom of the twister head of the twisting tool shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the twisting tool shown in FIGURE 1, but showing the side opposite that shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a side view partially in section of the twisting tool shown in FIGURE 1.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 generally designates a twisting tool which comprise a shaft 2 and a head 3. As shown, the shaft 2 is cylindrical, however, it should be understood that the shaft 2 may be of any other suitable shape without departing from the scope of this in- The lower portion of the shaft 2 is bent to one "Ice side, and, therefore, for purposes of clarity, the shaft may be considered as comprising two integral portions, a straight portion 4 and another portion 5 angularly disposed with respect to the straight portion 4. The portion 5 has depending therefrom a key 6, which cooperates with a keyway 7 disposed on the head 3. The head 3 may also be thought of as comprising two, preferably integral, parts, namely: a base portion 8 and a hook 9. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the base portion 8 is generally rectangular and has two substantially planar opposed surfaces. An elongated slot 1i), as best shown in FIGURE 6, extends through the depth of base portion 8 between the planar opposed surfaces and cooperates with a threaded aperture 11 angularly extending through the lower end of shaft 2. A bolt 12 (FIGURES 2 and 3) having an enlarged head 13, extends through the slot 10 and cooperates with the threads of aperture 11 to secure the head 3 to the shaft 2. Of course, the enlarged head 13 of bolt 12 is pressed against shoulder 14 of slot 10 when the bolt is tightened to secure the head 3 to shaft 2.

The hook portion 9 of base 3 comprises a finger of arcuate configuration. As best shown in FIGURE 1, the finger has one surface which is parallel to the opposed planar surfaces of the base portion 8. The finger tapers away along its length extending from the integral connection of the hook with base portion 8 to the tip of the finger. The finger extends an appreciable distance outwardly from the shaft 2 and this distance may be adjusted by loosening bolt 12, so as to allow for sliding engagement between key 6 and keyway 7.

A substantially V-shaped joint 15 is made between base portion 8 and hook 9, the joint serving to engage portions of the wires to be twisted.

The base portion 8, and therefore the hook portion 9, are disposed at an angle of between 20 and 4-0 degrees to an imaginary line running centrally and longitudinally of the straight portion 4 of shaft 2. It is only necessary, however, that the hook portion be so angularly disposed. The angular disposition of the hook relative to the shaft provides for obtaining the increased tensile strength, and the combination of key 6, keyway 7, slot 10, aperture 11, and bolt 12 provide means for the adjustably securing head 3 to shaft 2.

After considering the foregoing description in conjunction with the annexed drawing, it is apparent that there is provided by this invention, a device by which the various phases, objects, and advantages herein set forth, are successfully achieved.

Modifications of this invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading this disclosure. Therefore, it is intended that the matter contained in the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense, when consideration is given to the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A wire twisting tool comprising: a shaft having an elongated straight portion and an angularly extending portion at one end thereof a twisting head including a base portion and a twisting hook having a free end integrally extending therefrom said twisting hook being disposed in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said shaft and intersecting said axis at an acute angle; a key and keyway in cooperation between the bottom end surface of said extending portion and said base portion for securing said twisting head to said extending portion; means cooperating with said key and keyway to adjustably secure said twisting head to said shaft, said twisting hook being disposed at an angle to an imaginary axis running centrally and longitudinally of the straight portion of said shaft.

2. A wire twisting tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said base portion has at least two substantially planar parallel opposed surfaces and wherein said hook has one substantailly planar surface which is parallel to said planar parallel surfaces of said base portion.

3. A wire twisting tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said hook is tapered from the integral connection of said hook with said base portion to said free end of said hook.

4. A wire twisting tool comprising a shaft bent at one end but having an elongated straight portion and a twisting head secured in abutment with the bent end of said shaft, said head including a twisting hook of arcuate configuration and having a free end surface, said hook being disposed in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, said plane intersecting said axis at an acute angle.

5. A wire twisting tool as defined in claim 4 wherein a key depends from the lower extremity of said shaft, wherein said head also includes a base portion with which said hook is integral, said base portion having a keyway extending along the upper surface thereof to cooperate with said key, wherein said tool further comprises means 4, cooperating with said key and said keyway to adjustably secure said head to said shaft, and wherein said hook is tapered from the integral connection of said hook with said base portion to said free end of said hook.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 389,581 Locke Sept. 18, 1888 820,263 Schmid et al May 8, 1906 1,348,346 Bates Aug. 3, 1920 1,365,649 Bates Ian. 18, 1921 1,436,637 Bates Nov. 28, 1922 2,186,090 Barnett Jan. 9, 1940 2,507,622 Brugmann May 16, 1950 2,556,663 Smalley June 12, 1951 2,957,500 Hollyday Oct. 25, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 61,030 Sweden July 2, 1924 

